Top 10 Shows All 20 Somethings Should Watch
It's been said that how you spend your 20s will define you and these are the TV series that'll help keep you company along the way. Join MsMojo as we count down the top 10 shows all 20 somethings should watch. For this list, we're providing the ultimate list for those of you in your 20s – some are the hottest shows of the 2010s that'll be great for those of you who are millennials during that decade, while others are simply necessities of the recent past.
#10: “Girls” (2012-)
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Based in the hipster-friendly community of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, this HBO comedy was created by a living feminist icon in Lena Dunham, who also stars in the lead role as Hannah Horvath. Touching on all of today’s relevant topics in terms of self-expression, individuality and sexuality, “Girls” satirizes the usual millennial clichés while exploring how 20-somethings navigate a new world of interconnected communication. And with an acclaimed supporting cast featuring today’s most promising stars, you’re always in for a treat with “Girls.”
#9: “Orange Is the New Black” (2013-)
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Ok, so everybody has that friend who trembles at the very mention of anything negative, and here’s a show that injects a heavy dose of comedy into a usually morose theme. Centered around the concept of a big city woman sent to the slammer, “Orange Is the New Black” highlights a variety of females whom theoretically live on the fringes of accepted social norms. In other words, they’re a group of outcasts trying to get by on a variety of levels, but mainly up in the big house. After a couple episodes of this Netflix series, you’ll be overcome with emotion thanks to the pure abrasiveness of it all – but you also won’t be able to stop watching it either.
#8: “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-)
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Your boyfriend already secretly watches this supernatural CW drama, and you should be too. That is, if you’re not already. In the wake of the “Twilight” film series, everybody and their momma seemed to be capitalizing on the vampire trend, but this series managed to sustain lasting power due a loveable cast and legitimate scares. And while most horror productions have somewhat of a minimized impact after one viewing, “The Vampires Diaries” continues to keep it fresh on a yearly basis, providing one of the most beloved guilty pleasures of our time.
#7: “Veronica Mars” (2004-07)
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All right, so we think it’s a fair statement to say that most women adore Kristen Bell. She’s beautiful, she’s talented and she’s certainly relatable. And it’s these qualities that made her the ideal casting choice to play a studente investigator that kicks some Neptune butt and takes names. By taking a hard-hitting look at the high school experience, “Veronica Mars” managed to pull off the teen noir concept, and we highly suggest a full-blown binge watch, regardless of whether you’re a dedicated fan or curious couch potato.
#6: “New Girl” (2011-)
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Hmm…why should you watch this FOX series? Well, here’s why: because “New Girl” is sexy and damn well knows it. You’ve got the prototypical quirky girl in Zooey Deschanel, and you got some fellas that are downright hysterical and occasionally douchey in their own special ways. Originally called “Chicks & Dicks, “ this series leans heavily on comedy, but that’s not to say it won’t melt your heart from time to time as well. Be careful though, ladies, because if you watch “New Girl” with one or more friends, you might find yourself trying to keep that snorting in check because you’ll be laughing so hard. And that’s just a hard truth about this must-watch comedy.
#5: “Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
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Some people need laughter to survive each day and some need that drama. You know what we’re talkin’ about. And with a premise exploring the lives of bratty kids from the Upper East Side, you know there’s going to be plenty of catfights and well-placed zingers in this CW drama. “Gossip Girl” just has that OMG factor - the “WOW” quality - as these characters will make you re-examine your life as a whole, for better or worse. You want to BE them… but you also don’t. You need them in your life, but only at your own convenience. And hey, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick? Girls, you know what time it is. It’s time for “Gossip Girl.”
#4: “Pretty Little Liars” (2010-)
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Building on the drama that made our #5 entry such a hit, this show was initially directed towards a younger demographic, but it turns out that people of all ages just love to watch “Pretty Little Liars.” Here’s the story: young adults terrorize each other with pretty little lies, which, theoretically speaking, is both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. And yes, that’s what fuels the on-going narrative of this ABC Family hit, as it’s just wild enough to attract the intended audience and all those who need to satisfy their fix of the good ol’ days when there was nothing else to do other than to be young, wild and free.
#3: “The Mindy Project” (2012-)
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On paper, this series hits all the millennial clichés – big city, quirky lady, snarky friends – but when you throw Mindy Kaling into the mix, well, then you have a sitcom that operates on a higher level, and she even enlisted the late cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond to guide the camera for the first few seasons. When it comes to modern primetime comedy, “The Mindy Project” represents top-notch writing, genuinely hilarious performances and a creative, collaborative vision led by the one and only Mindy Kaling. It’s on-point across the board and one of the most innovative series of the 21st century.
#2: “Sex and the City” (1998-2004)
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In a time when people couldn’t use smartphones to avoid awkward conversations, they had to look each other in the eye and size each other up. So, with a sexualized plot steeped in the landscape of The Big Apple, “Sex and the City” offers a portrait of romance in a pre-digital age world. It’s another other show that guys dismiss in public but watch alone, and perhaps the 20-something MsMojoholics nation can revive this HBO classic to learn a thing or two about how women – and men – used to roll just a few short years ago. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Master of None” (2015-) “Ally McBeal” (1997-2002) “Glee” (2009-15) “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005-) “Broad City” (2014-) “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
#1: “Friends” (1994-2004)
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So, there’s really no excuse for not being at least somewhat familiar with this staple of primetime comedy, at least if you’re a North American who owns a television. Filmed on a Burbank, California lot but set in New York City, “Friends” examined the anxieties, hopes and fears of six 20-somethings just trying to get by while in search of happiness. It’s got all the insight and ramblings on daily life that “Seinfeld” so brilliantly provided, only it’s from the perspective of a slightly younger cast of characters. All in all, “Friends” lives on as the quintessential television comedy of the early Internet age. Do you agree with our list? What show do you think all 20-somethings need to watch? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
